The psychological impact of carrier status in hereditary disorders

Previous studies have indicated that carrier status has little effect on self-concept. However, rather than examine autosomal recessive illnesses, wherein genetic responsibility is shared by both parents, the present study samples women at risk of being sole carriers of an X-linked hereditary disorder, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Previous research most often assessed global self-esteem, thus problems in particular domains (such as future parental role or desirability as a mate) have generally been overlooked. Herein, a stigmatizing process is hypothesized whereby one aspect of the self, genetic identity, may be spoiled through a diminished sense of worthiness to reproduce. Family attitudes toward risk, how important bearing "her own" biological children is to the woman, how many social roles she currently enacts, whether she has had genetic testing or genetic counseling, and whether she has utilized follow-up counseling to aid in coming to terms with her carrier status, may moderate stigmatization.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

2003

Author dc:creator

• Karwoski, Jane Elizabeth

Contributors dc:contributor

• Murray G. Millar

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1628

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2627